20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees

in Bahrain
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Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy View this email in your browser
Wednesday, 6th August 2014, Issue #6
BIRD Weekly Newsletter
UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of
political detainees in Bahrain
Navi Pillay: "We want to see a release of
political detainees and relaxation of rules to
establish a permanent presence in Bahrain"
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20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain
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Geneva, 05.08.2014 - Yesterday, members of civil society were invited to a meeting
with UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay, who thanked all for their presence and
welcomed civil society members' cooperation with the OHCHR. Central to the
meeting were questions surrounding the human rights situation in Bahrain. BIRD and
ADHRB attended the meeting, questioning the OHCHR's future engagement on
Bahrain issues with reference to Pillay's successor, a Jordanian Prince, his Majesty
Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad, who is set to take the lead as new UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights in September. Mr. Ahmed Ali (BIRD) pointed to Jordan's close ties
with the Bahraini administration, relaying his concern for the future of the Prince's
engagement on Bahrain issues.
BIRD & ADHRB tweeting LIVE from Geneva yesterday (05.08.2014)
20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain
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A Human Rights Watch representative also highlighted Bahrain as a key concern,
questioning Ms. Pillay and her panel on the outcome of the OHCHR technical
mission to Bahrain in February this year. Pillay expressed her hopes for Bahraini
cooperation: "We want to see a release of political detainees and a relaxation of
rules to establish a permanent presence in Bahrain." Deputy High Commissioner Ms.
Flavia Pansieri also addressed the issue, describing Bahrain as a "small country with
big problems." Pansieri expressed the value of Bahraini civil society's engagement
with OHCHR given their limited access to the country. At the same time, she further
committed to continue to engage with Bahraini authorities, requesting them to prove
that there has been "measurable change on the ground."
Follow this link to access BIRD's live twitter feed of the
meeting.
Weekly Highlights
August Welcomes Champion for Justice:
Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji
20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain
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August welcomes Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain
(ADHRB), the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) and the Bahrain
Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD)'s new Champion for Justice Dr.
Saeed al-Samahiji. This month, BIRD and its partners will focus advocacy
efforts on his case.
Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji is an ophthalmologist and human rights activist who
extended his medical services to help injured protesters during the 2011 pro-
democracy protests in Bahrain. As a result, Dr. Al-Samahiji was among 20
medics that were convicted by a special military court on 29 September 2011
for treating Bahraini citizens who had been attacked by security forces in a
brutal government crackdown against political dissent. After appealing to the
Court of Appeals on 14 June 2012, Dr. Al-Samahijis sentence was reduced from
ten years to one year. During his time in detention, Dr. Al-Samahiji got a head
injury which resulted in internal bleeding, and he was sent abroad to be treated
in Jordan.
On 18 September 2013, less than six months after being released from prison,
Dr. Al-Samahiji was summoned for interrogation by the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID) after giving a speech at the funeral of a young protester who
had died as result of excessive use of force by Bahraini authorities. Dr. Al-
Samahiji voluntarily reported to the CID the following day, 19 September 2013.
Al-Samahiji was then transferred to the public prosecution for further
interrogation until he was released on bail of 200 BHD.
Despite Dr. Al-Samahijis denial of the charge - "insulting the king" - and his
lawyers statements that his speech falls under the right of freedom of
expression, as protected by the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR), the court sentenced him to one-year in prison. On 3 April 2014,
a court of appeal upheld the verdict delivered against Dr. Al-Samahiji.
Government security forces arrested Dr. Al-Samahiji from his home in the early
morning hours on 1 July 2014 to begin serving his prison sentence.
The arrest of Dr. Saeed al-Samahiji is the latest in the Bahraini authorities
escalating crackdown on the freedom of expression of the political opposition.
ADHRB, BCHR and BIRD join together in calling for the release of Dr. Al-
20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain
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Samahiji and all Bahraini prisoners convicted of insulting the King in
contravention of international law.
Documentation Report
Arrests

Approximately 18 individuals, including 1 child.
Ammar Abdulrasool, a 30 year old photographer, was arrested
over charges of illegal assembly. He was given 45 days detention
pending investigation.

Trials

Last week, criminal courts postponed 70 trials while 4 cases that
were upheld were sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison. The
sentences of 8 individuals were extended to more than 300 days.

News Updates
NGO Review
Americans for Democracy & Human Rights
in Bahrain
20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain
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Leading Policy Experts Urge Strategic Review and Strong
Response to Malinowski Expulsion from Bahrain

ADHRB's executive director, Mr. Husain Abdulla, joined 17 policy leaders in
urging the Obama administration to strongly respond to the recent expulsion of
Tom Malinowski, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Labor, and
Human Rights, from Bahrain. The letter calls on the administration to undertake a
strategic review of the current U.S.-Bahraini relationship and to respond swiftly and
forcefully to the expulsion of Mr. Malinowski from Bahrain, as failing to do so would
endanger U.S. strategic interests in Bahrain and undermine American credibility
globally. Click here to read the letter (PDF).
Main Features
"Critics Decry Lack of US Response to
Bahrain Expulsion"

Los Angeles Times
"Bahraini Regime Silences International
Community, Media - Activist"

Russia Today
Other News and Commentaries
US Concerned Over Bahrain Opposition Suspension
20/08/2014 17:00 BIRD Newsletter Issue #6: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay calls for release of political detainees in Bahrain
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Bahrain Asks Court To Temporarily Suspend Two More Opposition Groups
Trouble With Bahrain
Has Britain become Bahrains lapdog?
All Religions Are Suffering in the Middle East
Bahrain Regime Targets Opposition -- and the U.S.
Bahrain's FM Seems to Have Forgotten Ill Treatment of Journalists
BIRD @birdbahrain_ birdbh.org
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